Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami has fed off the energy of the home crowds at Rate Field.
“The crowds have been 100% really awesome throughout the year,” Murakami said through an interpreter on Tuesday. “It gets really loud. I’m initially happy the crowds are there and are supporting the team all the way.”
The Sox are anticipating amped up fans on Wednesday for Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. It will be the team’s first home game this postseason.
“Maybe the most simple way to put what is special about our club is the enthusiasm on the field,” manager Will Venable said. “That enthusiasm comes from players that are excited and play hard, and that enthusiasm comes from and is fueled by our fans as well.
“They’ve been there every step of the way as far as the growth of this club, the belief of this club.”
Reliever Grant Taylor said: “I’m pretty excited for (Wednesday) and what the crowds are going to bring us. It’s about time we gave them some postseason baseball.”
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The Sox come home with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five division series.
“Once we got through (Monday’s) game, my mind went straight to what kind of an environment are we going to have in Chicago, knowing the importance of this game, what it represents, with this team,” general manager Chris Getz said. “This fan base has been so supportive throughout the year. Our player group, they really respond well to our fan base.”
According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Game 3 will be just the second time in franchise history the Sox play a home game with a chance to clinch a postseason series. It also happened in Game 6 of the 1906 World Series, which the Sox won over the Cubs.
The Sox and Guardians held workouts on Tuesday. Here’s what was learned at Rate Field.
1. Sean Newcomb gets the Game 3 starting nod for the Sox.
Sean Newcomb was the first reliever called on for the Sox during Game 2, entering in the first inning after starter Anthony Kay faced three batters. Newcomb rebounded after a run-scoring throwing error to strike out three over two innings.
Newcomb was named the starter for Game 3.
“I thought the performance Game 2, obviously the one defensive play that was a really challenging play,” Venable said. “But that was it otherwise. He was really crisp, really sharp.
“Saw the stuff in a place that you would expect Sean Newcomb’s stuff to be at when he’s going good and in a playoff environment. A lot of confidence with him.”
As for the rest of the afternoon, Venable said it’s fair to say “we’re going to see some arms (Wednesday) potentially that we haven’t seen yet in this series or even in the playoffs.”
“There’s a lot of different ways that this can go,” Venable said. “And I think certainly we benefited from being able to have just two games in Houston (for the AL wild-card series) and having some rest and then having off days in between these first three games. That allowed us to do some things and that is not going to be the case anymore.
“So we’re going to have to, I don’t want to say change course, but we’re going to have to do everything that we can to cover these innings in a winning formula. It’s going to be all hands on deck.”
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Daniel Espino is starting for the Guardians.
2. How Grant Taylor got prepared to be available for Game 2.
Taylor pitched four impressive innings for the save in Game 1 on Saturday at Progressive Field. He was called on for the final 1 1/3 innings in Game 2 on Monday, picking up another save in the 4-3 win.
Taylor shared his recovery process between Game 1 and 2.
“Throw the four innings, it was a day game, so had plenty of time to go home,” Taylor said on Tuesday. “Ate dinner with my fiancée and family, went to sleep as early as I possibly could, slept as late as I possibly could.”
Taylor said the next steps were, “Coming to the yard, doing a bunch of recovery, got a massage. Just trying to stay hydrated, do as much recovery as I can, go to sleep as early as I possibly can, sleep as late. Just kind of maximizing the amount of rest time that I have.”
He said he came in Monday, “Making sure your arm’s ready, good to go, have conversations on what I’m available for, and was able to get the job done.”
3. Unified effort stands out to Munetaka Murakami.
Murakami had big moments in each of the first ALDS contests. In Game 1, he connected for a two-run home run as part of a two-hit day. In Game 2, he had an RBI single.
Murakami kept the focus on the team, and sees a group stepping up throughout the lineup and on the mound.
“We’re very unified together,” Murakami said when asked what’s impressed him most about the team so far this postseason. “It really shows on the field as our batting, one through nine, we’re contributing on all points in all the games.”
He continued with the pitching: “If you look at the bullpen, they’re coming in taking out batters in tough positions. Contributing. And at the end, I think we’re very much, like I said, unified as a team.
“We’re looking in the same direction, one direction, and I think that’s what stood (out) the most in (four playoff games) and that’s why we’re able to have success in this stretch.”